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Dr Colin Lawton

Contact Details

Biography

Research Interests

My main research interest is in the field of mammal ecology. I
have worked on a number of squirrel ecology projects, with particular reference
to their distribution, red and grey squirrel competition, red squirrel
conservation and the management of grey squirrel populations. My research
group has also investigated the use of translocation as a conservation tool for
red squirrels, and the interactions between both squirrel species and pine
martens.

The ecology of small mammal populations, the control of pest
species, the ecology of invasive species, mammal monitoring techniques and
their applications and mammal parasitology are other areas of interest.Other projects in my research group, the Animal Ecology and Conservation Unit, include an
investigation of the tardigrade (or ‘water bear’) fauna of Ireland, frog
ecology in coniferous forests and fish passage at hydroelectric power stations.

'Tardigrada of Ireland: a review of records and an updated checklist of species, including a new addition to the Irish fauna'
De Milio, E., Lawton, C. & Marley, N.J. (2016) 'Tardigrada of Ireland: a review of records and an updated checklist of species, including a new addition to the Irish fauna'. Zookeys, 616 :77-101 [DOI] [Details]

'Frontier population dynamics of an invasive squirrel species: Do introduced populations function differently than those in the native range?'
Goldstein, EA,Butler, F,Lawton, C (2015) 'Frontier population dynamics of an invasive squirrel species: Do introduced populations function differently than those in the native range?'. Biological Invasions, 17 :1181-1197 [DOI] [Details]

'Locating species range frontiers: a cost and efficiency comparison of citizen science and hair-tube survey methods for use in tracking an invasive squirrel'
Goldstein, EA,Lawton, C,Sheehy, E,Butler, F (2014) 'Locating species range frontiers: a cost and efficiency comparison of citizen science and hair-tube survey methods for use in tracking an invasive squirrel'. Wildlife Research, 41 :64-75 [DOI] [Details]

(2014)

'Population crash in an invasive species following the recovery of a native predator: the case of the American grey squirrel and the European pine marten in Ireland'
Sheehy, E,Lawton, C (2014) 'Population crash in an invasive species following the recovery of a native predator: the case of the American grey squirrel and the European pine marten in Ireland'. Biodiversity And Conservation, 23 :753-774 [DOI] [Details]

'REPRODUCTION OF COMMON FROGS, RANA TEMPORARIA, IN A MANAGED CONIFER FOREST AND BOG LANDSCAPE IN WESTERN IRELAND'
Dibner, RR,Lawton, C,Marnell, F (2014) 'REPRODUCTION OF COMMON FROGS, RANA TEMPORARIA, IN A MANAGED CONIFER FOREST AND BOG LANDSCAPE IN WESTERN IRELAND'. Herpetological Conservation And Biology, 9 :38-47 [Details]

(2013)

'Investigating the role of wild carnivores in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis'
Stuart, P,Zintl, A,De Waal, T,Mulcahy, G,Hawkins, C,Lawton, C (2013) 'Investigating the role of wild carnivores in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis'. Parasitology, 140 :296-302 [DOI] [Details]

Squirrels in Ireland. First National Conference in Red Squirrel Conservation, University of Exeter, Exeter, England.
Lawton, C. (2013) Squirrels in Ireland. First National Conference in Red Squirrel Conservation, University of Exeter, Exeter, England. Conference Paper [Details]

(2012)

Distribution, density and diet of the European pine marten (Marets martes) in the midlands and east of Ireland, as determined by the molecular analysis of non-invasively collected samples. European Mustelid Colloquium. National Museum of Ireland, Dublin.
Sheehy, E., O'Meara, D., O'Reilly, C. & Lawton, C. (2012) Distribution, density and diet of the European pine marten (Marets martes) in the midlands and east of Ireland, as determined by the molecular analysis of non-invasively collected samples. European Mustelid Colloquium. National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. Conference Paper [Details]

(2012)

The southern range exapansion of the grey squirrel in Ireland: determining the frontier and surveying the population. Poster for All Ireland Mammal Symposium, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin.
Goldstein, E., Lawton, C. & Butler, F. (2012) The southern range exapansion of the grey squirrel in Ireland: determining the frontier and surveying the population. Poster for All Ireland Mammal Symposium, National Botanic Gardens, Dublin. Conference Paper [Details]

The role of Irish wild mustelids and canids in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis in Ireland. All Ireland Mammal Symposium, Waterford, Ireland.
Stuart, P., Mulcahy, G. & Lawton, C. (2009) The role of Irish wild mustelids and canids in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis in Ireland. All Ireland Mammal Symposium, Waterford, Ireland. Conference Paper [Details]

(2009)

The post-release monitoring of 2 translocated populations of red squirrels in the west of Ireland. All Ireland Mammal Symposium, Waterford, Ireland.
Waters, C; Lawton, C (2009) The post-release monitoring of 2 translocated populations of red squirrels in the west of Ireland. All Ireland Mammal Symposium, Waterford, Ireland. Conference Paper [Details]

The population dynamics of pygmy shrews under three land use regimes. Teagasc Agricultural Research Forum.
Quinn, N. & Lawton, C. (2007) The population dynamics of pygmy shrews under three land use regimes. Teagasc Agricultural Research Forum. Conference Paper [Details]

(2006)

The use of translocation in the conservation of the red squirrel. The Fourth International Tree Squirrel Colloquium, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India.
Lawton, C. & Poole, A. (2006) The use of translocation in the conservation of the red squirrel. The Fourth International Tree Squirrel Colloquium, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India. Conference Paper [Details]

Implications of Sheep Grazing on the Population Dynamics of Small Mammals in the West of Ireland. Teagasc Agricultural Research Forum.
Quinn, N. & Lawton, C. (2008) Implications of Sheep Grazing on the Population Dynamics of Small Mammals in the West of Ireland. Teagasc Agricultural Research Forum. Conference Poster [Details]

The control of American mink in Ireland. Postgraduate Ecology Forum, UCC.
Hawkins, C. & Lawton, C. (2006) The control of American mink in Ireland. Postgraduate Ecology Forum, UCC. Conference Poster [Details]

(2006)

The impact of hill sheep on the population dynamics of wood mice. Teagasc Agricultural Research Forum.
Quinn, N. & Lawton, C. (2006) The impact of hill sheep on the population dynamics of wood mice. Teagasc Agricultural Research Forum. Conference Poster [Details]

(2005)

The ecology of the red squirrel in the west of Ireland, with a view to potential translocation opportunities to uninhabited areas of Connemara. 3 - Translocating red squirrels Embark Initiative IRCSET Award Annual Seminar.
Poole, A. & Lawton, C. (2005) The ecology of the red squirrel in the west of Ireland, with a view to potential translocation opportunities to uninhabited areas of Connemara. 3 - Translocating red squirrels Embark Initiative IRCSET Award Annual Seminar. Conference Poster [Details]

(2004)

The ecology of the red squirrel in the west of Ireland, with a view to potential translocation opportunities to uninhabited areas of Connemara. 2 - Sourcing red squirrels Embark Initiative IRCSET Awards Annual Seminar.
Poole, A. & Lawton, C. (2004) The ecology of the red squirrel in the west of Ireland, with a view to potential translocation opportunities to uninhabited areas of Connemara. 2 - Sourcing red squirrels Embark Initiative IRCSET Awards Annual Seminar. Conference Poster [Details]

(2003)

The ecology of the red squirrel in the west of Ireland, with a view to potential translocation opportunities to uninhabited areas of Connemara. 1 - Introduction and Methodology. Embark Initiative IRCSET Award Annual Seminar.
Poole, A. & Lawton, C. (2003) The ecology of the red squirrel in the west of Ireland, with a view to potential translocation opportunities to uninhabited areas of Connemara. 1 - Introduction and Methodology. Embark Initiative IRCSET Award Annual Seminar. Conference Poster [Details]

(1999)

Is there a future for hardwood forestry in Ireland? The impact of grey squirrels on Irish woodland. Biological Invaders: The Impact of Exotic Species Royal Irish Academy, Nat. Comm. for Biology 1999 Seminar;.
Lawton, C. & Rochford, J. M. (1999) Is there a future for hardwood forestry in Ireland? The impact of grey squirrels on Irish woodland. Biological Invaders: The Impact of Exotic Species Royal Irish Academy, Nat. Comm. for Biology 1999 Seminar;. Conference Poster [Details]

Non Published Reports

Year

Publication

(2006)

Belleek Wood as a potential site for red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) - An Assessment. National Parks and Wildlife Service Report.
Lawton, C (2006) Belleek Wood as a potential site for red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) - An Assessment. National Parks and Wildlife Service Report. Non Published Reports [Details]

(2000)

Red squirrel distribution and habitat use in north County Wicklow.
Lawton, C; Rochford, JM (2000) Red squirrel distribution and habitat use in north County Wicklow. Non Published Reports [Details]